As the first session of the 119th Congress convenes this month, and we begin this presidential quadrennium, Alabama’s power on the Potomac has gravitated to the United States House of Representatives.

Our seniority in Washington is settling into the House. Mike Rogers (R-Calhoun) is the king of the Armed Services Committee. Gary Palmer (R-Jefferson) is becoming the go-to guy on policy in the House. Terri Sewell (D-Jefferson) is becoming one of the most respected and powerful Democrats in Congress.

The king of our delegation is Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville). He has represented the 4th Congressional District with honor and distinction for 28 years, which puts him in the upper echelon of seniority in the U.S. House of Representatives. He got to Congress at the ripe age of 30. That is the way to do it. Get to Congress at an early age and stay there a long time. He is not even 60 years old, which is the age when most folks first get elected to Congress. He was elected to his 15th term in November by more than 80% of the vote. He gets that high approval vote standard every time.

Aderholt is a staunch supporter of his district and the state of Alabama. Aderholt has proven that the Federal government serves a critical role in assisting with state and local projects regarding economic development. He has brought barrels of federal dollars to his beloved 4th Congressional District. Aderholt believes his top priority is constituent service. Every year the powerful congressman helps hundreds of people in his North Alabama district with issues they have with Social Security, Veterans’ benefits, passports and other federal agencies.

The primary reason that Congressman Robert Aderholt is the most prominent member of the U.S. Congress is because he is the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over funding the operations of the federal government. Aderholt serves as the chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. This sub-committee is responsible for the largest non-defense portion of spending in the entire federal budget.

Aderholt is a strong man of faith. His life is exemplary. He is the epitome of what a true husband and father should emulate. He is a true blue, conservative, Republican Congressman, as well as being a Christian family man.

Robert Aderholt was born and raised in Haleyville. His father was a revered circuit judge in his traditionally Republican bailiwick. He graduated with honors from Birmingham Southern College and got his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Caroline, have two children. Robert Hayes is a Junior at Auburn University and Mary Elliott is an outstanding young woman who works as a consultant and has recently gotten engaged to be married to Grant Whitt, the son of Huntsville State Rep. Andy Whitt.

Caroline Aderholt is quite an Alabama success story herself. She, like Robert, is a graduate of Birmingham Southern. She is a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. Caroline McDonald Aderholt has quite an Alabama political pedigree. Her father, Albert McDonald, was a long-term state senator from the Huntsville/Madison County area. He went on to be elected to two, four-year terms as Alabama Agriculture Commissioner. He was the ultimate gentleman and a very successful farmer. He had vast land holdings in Madison County.

In October, the Richard Shelby FBI headquarters was dedicated in Huntsville. I rode with Robert and Caroline Aderholt on a bus to the private, secure, FBI facility dedication. As we rode to the Rocket Center location from a shopping center, homes and shopping centers continued for miles. I looked over at Caroline and asked, “Is this your family land?” She said, “Yes, I used to ride on a tractor with my daddy over all this land as a little girl.” Now, it is all shopping centers, homes, and the Redstone Arsenal.

The proof that Congressman Aderholt is a power in Washington was evident when we arrived at the event. The FBI had reserved the two front row seats for Robert and Caroline Aderholt.

Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.